STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY: Inuyasha and all its characters do not belong to me. They belong to their rightful owner, Rumiko Takahashi. This is for entertainment purposes only. No copyright infringement intended.

Title: The Nexus of Satisfaction
Author: Gladiel
Series: Inuyasha
Genre: General
Rating: PG
Word-count: 1373
Summary: Not all crazy ideas end in a tragedy. Actually, even they can be called 'gifts'.

THE NEXUS OF SATISFACTION
chapter nine
gift.


"Seshoumaru, say…"

By now, he was used to having her presence around him. It was exactly a month, sixteen days, and an hour since the woman decided to come uninvited…unless Rin offered an invitation without his permission.

Children.

It wasn't the first time he ignored her either. Sesshoumaru was frank and liked to drive points without beating around the bush and he liked himself that way. He understood that ignoring her relayed the message that he wanted her to leave his lands. She was either too stupid or she purposely ignored it; she was still staying when he clearly had no interest in entertaining her whatsoever.

"Why don't I become your 'Mama' for a day?"

He froze. The woman was getting crazier every second and he was going to be the one who will receive its full effects. Every idea that pops out from her head gets weirder and weirder every day.

"It will be my Christmas gift for you because I can't possibly think of anything else," she looked at him sheepishly, "Unless…you want a teddy bear."

He glared at her, knowing a little too well that she was teasing him. It irked him that he couldn't say an equally embarrassing retort.

"Hm, so how about it?" she asked again.

She already explained to him Christmas. It was a foreign tradition of some sort that was celebrated only once a year. Maybe there wasn't anything dangerous about her offer?

But it was Kagome. Considering it was her, something was bound to happen. He was dealing with the woman who shattered the Shikon no Tama, woke up most of the dormant demons, and started an all-out war with Naraku. So it must be best if he was on his guard twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

If only the damn woman was predictable.

"Then be quick about it," he finally said.

"If there's any way to be quick in about fourteen hours then do suggest."

He regarded her coolly. "You very well know that was not what I meant. Are you certain it cannot be for a mere few minutes?"

She arched a brow. "Ten hours. For goodness sake, Sesshoumaru, I said 'Mama for a day!'"

"One."

"Seven."

"One and a half."

"Three."

"The offer still stands," he said firmly.

"Alright! Dammit!"

He smirked at his victory. Hm, sweet.

"Now, Sesshou-kun, let's make use of those hot springs you're blessed with but seldom use before we do anything else. I'll wash your back," she offered.

He didn't know which was more horrifying, her calling him 'Sesshou-kun' or the fact that she, a lowly human, was planning to wash his back. However, despite his displeasure over the situation, his face remained amazingly void of all emotion.

Kagome noticed his hesitation. "I'm not going to do anything to you, idiot."

He almost wanted to laugh at that. But of course, the world shall end first before anyone hears this Sesshoumaru's laughter.

"Isn't it usually the other way around, wench?"

She regarded him thoughtfully for a good three seconds before answering, "Nope. At least not you. You despise humans. Why would you do it? You dislike Inuyasha's mother, to put it lightly."

Damn her.

"If to spite you?" he said, thinking he had to counter that.

"What?"

"If only to spite you," he ventured.

She gave him a glare but with the absence of genuine malice. "Just try it." With the sudden realization that time was being stalled she grabbed his arm and pulled. He didn't budge but instead pulled his arm away from her.

"For the love of demons! Come on! Lords don't refuse gifts!"

"And your reference was…?"

She pouted, acting like a child who couldn't have her way.

"I was merely checking its credibility."

She breathed in and out, looked at him straight in the eye and said, "An hour and a half. That was how much time you gave me. Now if we don't go now, it will be reduced to a minute."

He smirked. His objective, exactly.

"What? You're afraid to try out that time of youth you lost in the absence of a mother?"

That provoked him. He walked past her with the haughty arrogance of a lord. Behind him, Kagome was smiling like a silly six-year-old. Now, that's more like it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The hands that went back and forth on his back were gentle. Warmth from the hot springs was not only physical. It touched him tender, a sensation that had been lost to him for many decades.

He closed his eyes, relaxing under the warm hands that washed his back. He imagined an elegant woman, with hair as sliver as his, but longer. Her eyes were an ephemeral gray that twinkled with love for a son she adored.

"Mother…"

Unconsciously, the whispered call for his mother slipped from his mouth. If Kagome heard, she gave no indications that she did and said nothing. She let Sesshoumaru enjoy the silent reverie with an unsaid hope that Sesshoumaru would someday trust her.

She sang him songs, songs that she remembered from her childhood. Those very songs were sung by her mother and each told a different story. One was about animals climbing up a mountain, another was about a traveler. Her voice lulled him into relaxation and his stiffened back slacked a bit, until she decided the bath was over.

"You want me to help you put on your clothes?"

"Don't try your luck, woman."

Kagome grinned, pleased that Sesshoumaru was in a good mood. He clothed himself, away from the teasing eyes of the girl. She offered they rest in the garden and Sesshoumaru was not in the mood to reject the offer. The bath already rekindled kind memories and it seemed like bliss to lose himself in them—even if the sensation was momentary.

Kagome offered her lap, and as expected, Sesshoumaru refused. She sat in a close distance by him, however, and watched thoughtfully as he lay on the grass in a boyish fashion. She patted his head, as she imagined his mother would do, and received soft, growling sounds from the demon lord.

Sesshoumaru tensed at first, for he was unfamiliar with a touch gently stroking him, showering him with motherly kindness. He remembered them: moonlit nights with a galaxy of stars shining over the vast darkness of the evening, serving as the night's lighted candles. He was snuggled in the warm arms of his mother, unable to sleep and tormented by childish nightmares.

The feeling was affectionate; it touched him soothingly and carefully, as if cautions to prevent him from running away in surprise. It hugged him slowly, until he seemed too attached to refuse the loving embrace.

However, he knew that she was not his mother. He puzzled over the sudden realization that this woman, a human who was trying hard to sustain an experience in a youth he had long lost, could be capable of such tender actions. He was most familiar with humans who were greedy and capricious creatures and would do anything to survive that wheel of life, even if it meant crushing thousands. He knew humans as ruthless creatures, cunning and selfish.

Maybe it was a mistake she was born a human.

Time flowed like a calming stream, leaving both the girl and the demon alone with their thoughts. Love was not lost to both of them. Perhaps somewhere along the way they strayed, taking a different road as a consequence of their pasts, but it was still possible for them to meet at a certain crossroad for both had something similar that linked them together.

Time slipped until none of them realized how much of it passed. Sesshoumaru woke up from a deep slumber, for sleep was not something demons were excempted from. He dreamed about sweet visions of his mother and it graced him with a light feeling, as if the dreams lifted his stress and problems.

Perhaps the human was right. He had silently wished to experience a youth he was robbed of and when given the opportunity, he freely accepted that gift she offered. That gift, however, made him realize that it was merely a wish long past. Now that it was granted, he sought for another wholly different. He simply couldn't put into words what it was.


Chapter nine end.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: So that wasn't a drabble. Forgive the exception? This one's for Izzy. My promised Christmas gift for you, love.

theme #92: Christmas – entitled "Gift". Happy holidays to you all. : )